Today was another frantic change-over day. we said goodbye to our off going guests and volunteers.
The terrific trio of Ross, Mick and John (along with their 'supervisor' Andy) have been working like crazy on the Heligoland trap all week. Their plan was to try and get as much of the wide end meshed as possible (the narrow end had been meshed previously), and by Friday, they had done a great job and got finished up to the bit they said they would do. We now just have a 4 metre strip along the side that needs finishing, but the lads worked like troopers to get it done and in hard conditions as the wire (which was all bought and donated to us by Andy) was made from Stainless Steel and is a pain to work with both metaphorically and literally! They were absolutely fantastic set of blokes on their first visit to the island. Thanks Guys!
Andy, Mick, John and Ross |
Then we said goodbye again to Fiona who was on her second volunteer stint for the year. This time she was working hard cutting back the net rides which needed a real good haircut having not been done thoroughly for about 3 years. Again Fiona worked tirelessly and long days clearing brambles, damson and gorse to make the net rides properly usable again.
net ride 1 before |
and after |
and Finally Louis... Louis has been here with us for five weeks as our autumn intern. Louis enthusiasm for ringing has been amazing. he has in his five weeks ringed just under 500 birds and helped break the House Martins ringing total record. Louis has been a great part of the team and his laugh and energy will be missed around here.
Louis in foreground extracting a Storm Petrel |
We also said goodbye to two former Observatory staff in Peter Roberts (who wrote the Birds of Bardsey) and Dave Suddaby who was Peter's Assistant. Peter was the longest serving warden at BBFO before Steve, having done seven years at the helm. Dave did a couple of seasons in the 1980s and made his first visit back to the island in over 40 years. It was really good to catch up with them and hear some of their old stories of massive falls of Willow Warblers and lighthouse attractions - thinks that dont appear to happen any more.
So as there was a changeover and also Stuart is now away on holiday (all-beit only up the road at Nant!) there was not a huge amount of birding done. Steve and Kevin went out before change over but didn't see too much, Stuart had a Little Gull from the South End. Steve had a Wryneck near the Farm in the afternoon and Nant held a Pied Flycatcher. A Redstart was in the Lowlands and the six Spotted Flycatchers were widespread and likely to be remnants from the previous days arrivals.
17 Gannets, one Grey Heron, six Teal, ten Mallard, two Common Scoter, one Sparrowhawk, five Purple Sandpipers, 11 Dunlin, one Snipe, 51 Curlew, eight Redshank, 50 Turnstone, one Great Skua, one Little Gull, 557 Kittiwakes, two Swifts, one Wryneck, ten Sand Martins, 71 Swallows, eight House Martins, 56 Meadow Pipits, four Grey Wagtails, one Redstart, one Whinchat, 13 Whitethroats, one Garden Warbler, 26 Willow Warblers, nine Spotted Flycatchers, one Pied Flycatcher, 48 Goldfinch, 150 Linnets
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